Seahawks' Jones feels right at home

Ex-Cowboy feeds off Qwest atmosphere, senses big rush in first start for Seattle

CLARE FARNSWORT, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

By CLARE FARNSWORTH, P-I REPORTER

Published 10:00 pm, Thursday, September 11, 2008

Running back Julius Jones, surrounded by a host of tacklers in Seattle's opener at Buffalo, will make his first start for the Seahawks against the 49ers on Sunday.
Photo: Dan DeLong/Seattle Post-Intelligencer

RENTON -- Julius Jones was doing his best to act like this is just another week, just another game.

But as the fifth-year running back talked about getting his first start for the Seahawks in Sunday's home opener against the San Francisco 49ers, the corners of his mouth frequently curled into the slightest of smiles.

This is why Jones, a former starter for the Dallas Cowboys, signed with the Seahawks in March when he might have elicited more lucrative offers from other teams.

That's why he put his ego on hold when coach Mike Holmgren declared at the start of training that Jones and incumbent backup Maurice Morris would be co-starters, sharing the load that had been carried the past seven seasons by Shaun Alexander -- the franchise's all-time leading rusher who was released in April.

"Hats off to those guys for keeping the friction to an absolute minimum," running backs coach Kasey Dunn said. "In fact, there was none there."

But with Morris out, likely until after the Week 4 bye because of a sprained knee suffered in the season opener, this is Jones' opportunity to break out of his job-sharing role in a stadium where he has had a couple of breakout games.

"It's exciting -- it's really exciting," Jones said. "It's a great opportunity to play in front of the best crowd in the NFL. I've played in every stadium in the league, and this is by far the best crowd. Now, I get to play in front of them eight times a year.

"This is the first one, so I'm really excited about it."

In 2004, his rookie season, Jones ran for 198 yards and three touchdowns in the Cowboys' 43-39 victory over the Seahawks at Qwest Field. In a 2006 playoff game, he had a 112-yard rushing performance in the Seahawks' even-wilder 21-20 victory.

Jones needs to have a productive afternoon against the 49ers if the Seahawks are to put last week's 34-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills behind them.

"It doesn't matter to me whether I get the ball 15 times or 40," Jones said. "I've done both, and I've produced both. So whatever the coaches want to give me I'm willing to handle and capable to handle."

Jones ran for 45 yards on 13 carries in the opener, and 77 yards on 19 carries during the preseason. Not exactly franchise back-type numbers, but at this point completely understandable because Jones still is getting used to the offense.

"I wouldn't say that he's 'there' 100 percent, but he's getting there," Dunn said. "It's one of those things where you probably don't really grasp it until you're in your second year, because there are so many plays in the West Coast offense."

But there have been indications that Jones is starting to play more on instinct than having to run through his mind what he's supposed to be doing.

"Julius' mental mistakes are down to a minimum, and he's just in there busting his tail," Dunn said.

Offered Jones: "It's definitely a factor -- learning new plays and a new system. Having the coaches be able to trust you, that's a major factor, too.

"As long as you're out there thinking, you're not going to be the best you can be. If you're out there, know what you're doing and can just play ball, then the sky is the limit."

One thing that won't change is the Seahawks' offensive approach. With the passing game relying on untested hands because of injuries to the team's top four receivers, the Seahawks could try to pound the ball at the 49ers. Could, but won't.

"I don't know that coach Holmgren is really cut from that cloth," Dunn said. "So I wouldn't guess that he's going to go that route."

As far as the approach, unlike in past seasons when Morris was used as a counterpunch runner to Alexander, the offense doesn't have to change depending on which back is being handed the ball -- or thrown it -- because Jones and Morris have similar styles.

"It's going to be the same thing, expect that it will be all Julius this week rather than the combination of Mo and Julius," fullback Leonard Weaver said.

This is Jones' big chance, because Jones and backup T.J. Duckett will not be used the same way Holmgren planned to use Jones and Morris.

"Jones will take the role and then Duckett will be a part of that, but it won't be like it was with Mo and Jones," is the way Holmgren put it.

No wonder Jones is having such a difficult time suppressing smiles this week.